"OPENED THE GATES OF HELL"

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, spiritual head of Palestinian militant group Hamas, has been killed in an Israeli air strike. He was targeted as he returned from a mosque in Gaza City at daybreak. Seven others were killed and many wounded.

The killing triggered unrest and calls for revenge from Palestinians, as tens of thousands took part in a funeral.

Hamas said Israel had "opened the gates of hell" - but the army said the Sheikh had been "personally responsible" for the killing of Israelis.

Security forces killed the Hamas leader in an air strike on his car in northern Gaza Strip, an army statement said.

Reports from the scene said Sheikh Yassin was being pushed in his wheelchair when he was directly hit by a missile...

"The battle is open and war between us and them is open," said senior Hamas leader Abdul Aziz al Rantissi. "Today they killed an Islamic symbol."

Question: Given the incessant suicide bombings of civilian targets over the last two and a half years, what is different now that "the battle is open?"

And just so we don't get too teary for an old man in a wheel chair, let's not overlook that he was the founder and head of Hamas...and here is a list that includes that organization's "accomplishments".

(via The Corner at National Review Online)